Not only is it tax filing season, it's also open season for identity thieves trying to steal your personal data. Michigan based Plante Moran partner Karen Cady says there's only one way that the IRS initiates correspondence with taxpayers.

“The IRS never calls and never emails. They always correspond via the mail. The one thing that's a trigger is when you electronically file your return, if you get a rejection notice then that means someone beat you to the punch in terms of filing under your social security number.”

Cady says your best bet to ward off other people swiping your tax info is to file as early as possible.